J.P. Crawford has always wanted the life of a professional baseball player.

He’s living it now.

The recent Lakewood High graduate, the 16th overall pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in the MLB amateur draft earlier this month, signed with the team Tuesday for a bonus of $2.3 million, was rolled out in front of the Philadelphia media Wednesday and will begin his playing career today in Clearwater, Fla.

It was as expected, signing with the Phillies and forgoing his scholarship offer to USC.

“It’s always been my dream to play Major League Baseball,” Crawford told the media at Citizens Bank Park. “I got that opportunity, so I thought, `Why not?’ It’s time to chase my dream.”

The Press-Telegram’s 2013 co-Player of the Year, Crawford will fly to Clearwater today to join the Phillies’ rookie-level Gulf Coast League team.

From there, the future will be up to him.

“I’m a compete-110-percent kind of guy,” said the 18-year-old shortstop. “I go hard every play, every pitch. I want to win.”

Crawford’s father, who flew with him to Philadelphia, had some sound advice for his son.

“I just told him, `Hey, don’t take it for granted. Go down there, work hard, because next year somebody’s going to be there to take your spot,’ ” said the elder Crawford. “That’s the reality of the game.”

Crawford is seen as a replacement, someday, for Phillies star shortstop Jimmy Rollins. The two chatted via text and in person this week.

“He was just saying congratulations and that maybe one day you can replace me,” Crawford said of the text conversation with his “role model.”

Always full of confidence, the 6-foot-2, 180-pounding left-handed hitting Crawford responded in jest: “I’m going to take your spot right now. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Crawford showed up on the Phillies’ radar last season when the team was scouting ex-Lakewood pitcher Shane Watson, whom the team selected with the 40th overall pick in the 2012 draft.

Local Phillies scout Demerius Pittman liked what he saw from Crawford – including his “great baseball IQ” – and assistant general manager Marti Wolever pegged him as a possible draft selection this year.

“Last year, when I went to watch Watson, (Crawford) made every play possible. He just had great instincts and a feel for the game,” Wolever said. “It’s hard enough to see that in college players or a high school senior, but as a junior, he did all that.

“That’s the real kid that you see out there. He’s real humble, but yet very confident. He’s got a pretty good makeup, and obviously the physical skills are there to be a front-line guy.”

Watson was literally jumping for joy when he found out that his friend and former teammate was drafted by the same club.

“After he got interviewed on TV, it brought me back to our tee-ball days when we were 6 or 7 and just playing for fun,” Watson told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Now we’re playing, and it’s our job, so that’s pretty special for me and him.”

Crawford left high school as Lakewood’s all-time leader in career hits (179), runs scored (162), stolen bases (73) and walks (72). This season, he hit .452 with 39 runs scored and 10 doubles.